'January gives us chance to improve'

30 December 2014

Boss eyes work on the training ground

Manager Steve Clarke says his players will benefit from time on the training ground now that the Christmas run of fixtures is complete.

Upon arriving at the club, Clarke had three fixtures in nine days, but the next five fixtures are spread across 29 days, giving Steve and new assistant Kevin Keen a greater chance to work with the players at Hogwood.

And in addition, a number of injured players are on their way back, to further increase Clarke's options.

Steve said, "I'm looking at January as a good month because there's no midweek games if we don't have a cup replay, so there's more time on the training ground to work on things.

"In a short space of time the players have started to pick up a few things, but unfortunately for them I've many more things I want them to do!"

We had Guthrie and Mackie back in the squad for our last match, and Clarke declared, "Delighted! When I can name them in the squad it gives everyone a lift. I look at the bench and I'm happy with the changes I can make.

"There's lots of quality in the club. A few have maybe missed too many games with injury but hopefully they'll be back to help us soon."

And the boss has vowed that the team will continue to improve, saying, "For sure, for sure. We will get better. That has to be the aim. If I'm happy with what we've done so far, we won't improve.

"We enjoyed the win but I'm already chasing the next one. I'm thinking about Huddersfield, Middlesbrough, I just want to win games and get up the table as quickly as we can."